CATHOLICOS OF CILICIAN GREAT HOUSE APPEALS TO RA PRESIDENT

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 23 2009
Armenia

"In a set of conditions, Turkey is likely to lay down on Armenia,
Ankara will pursue to sponge the memory of 1.5 million slaughtered
Armenians," the letter of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia to Armenian authorities reads. H.H Aram I,
who devoted his life to the international recognition of Armenian
Genocide expresses concern over the Armenia-Turkey protocols initiated
by the RA President Serzh Sargsyan.

The message of H.H. Aram I says, "A wave of anxiety on possible
Armenia-Turkey diplomatic relations was also raised amid Armenian
Diaspora all over the globe. Most of all we are concerned with the
issue of Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire of 1915 and Karabakh peace
process." Presenting a 7-point proposal to Armenian political elite,
the dignitary outlines the necessity of having low-keyed approach in
normalizing diplomatic relations with Ankara.

"Being perfectly aware of how sensitive political debates on
Armenia-Turkey relations might be, we consider Armenian side should
have firm stance on the recognition of Armenian Genocide. Understand
at all that we are descendants of those who were cruelly annihilated
(were murdered, burnt, buried alive, died of hunger, cold, consumption,
humiliation during displacements from our lands) and we have no right
to let oblivion reign political debates.

Thus, we do not find advisable to set up any commission that under
cover and pretense of research in historic documentation may cast a
shadow of doubt on the Genocide. Meanwhile, we do not want to give
rise to Turkish side for accusing [Armenian] Diaspora of interfering
into affairs of Armenian Republic and preventing the normalization
process with Turkey. Hence, the necessity that Armenian leader Serzh
Sargsyan assuages doubts of Armenian Diaspora emerged," the letter
concludes, Blagovest Info agency reports.